Make time to visit the Mohair SA Headquarters on 6th Avenue, just up the road from us in Walmer, Port Elizabeth, you will not be disappointed. Shortly after Mohair SA moved into their newly constructed building last year, we shared photos and some information of the exterior and promised to return with a report on what’s inside at Mohair SA.

Below are photos of the interior at Mohair SA. We were welcomed by friendly staff who took pride in educating us about their fine mohair products. Visitors to Mohair SA with a Nelson Mandela Bay pass, receive a free mohair gift, an Angora goat.

The unique qualities of mohair are described in their own words, taken from their website www.mohair.co.za

UNIQUE QUALITIES:-
•Lustre: the fibre’s natural lustre gives garments a silky sheen. It’s the ideal garment to wear day or night.
•Lightweight: the fabric is luxuriously lightweight and renowned for its versatility: cool in summer and warm in winter.
•Dye-responsive: mohair responds magnificently to dyes, retaining even the most brilliant colours over time.
•Climate control: mohair breathes, absorbing and realizing atmospheric moisture and controlling its own “climate” to ensure optimal comfort.
•Durability: because of its pliability, mohair is rated as one of the world’s most durable fibres.
•Crease resistant: products made from mohair have an innate elasticity, which ensures they hold their space.
•Non-flammable: mohair is virtually non-flammable, keeping you safe and chic all year round.

This brave warrior woman, adventurer Zakie Odendaal, arrived on our driveway recently to put her feet up at Dempsey’s Guest House and to recharge her battery for the next leg of her solo walk along the SA Coastline. YES, she is walking the entire South African coastline on her own, along the beaches and as close to the coastline as possible. She started her journey at Alexander Bay in September 2016 and her goal is to reach Kosi Bay, northern most part of KwaZulu-Natal, by June 2017. She is already ahead of schedule! Travelling with a tent, some good walking sticks and a few supplies, her backpack is lead-like. She trudges 7kms per hour, averaging 50kms per day.

Zakie is a freelance photographer who has had this dream for many years to walk the SA coastline, a tough personal challenge, unaided and without sponsorships. Along this walk she has given deep thought to future walks and adventures, she is considering future sponsorships so that she can raise funds to assist projects to empower and improve the lives of poverty-stricken children.

We asked her what the highlights have been along this walk so far. “The kindness of people” she replied with a beaming smile “along with magnificent nature surrounding me at every step and turn.”

And your lowlights Zakie? Without hesitation she answered: “That would definitely be negative people!”

We wished her well and dropped her off at Bluewater Bay Beach. She was quick to start walking and we watched as she powered on into the pumping east wind. Within minutes she was a mere dot on the horizon, heading for Sunday’s River and later the dunefields of Alexandria, the largest dunefields in the southern hemisphere. Our wish for you Zakie as you close in on your challenge is firm sand for solid footing, mild beautiful weather and the continued kindness of people.

We have a dream…to be passengers in a helicopter flying over the SA Coastline. A couple of months would do it. Just saying, in case a mad helicopter pilot and a crazy photographer with generous sponsors… are listening:)

And from their website:- “The Hussar Grill is proud to be celebrating 50 years of award-winning excellence and we are ready for another exciting milestone. The Hussar Grill welcomes you into the world of one of South Africa’s premier grill rooms – perfectly aged succulent steaks, delectable house specialities and an amazing award-winning wine selection… or you can bring your own favourite wine, at no charge!”

Cheers and good business to you, the new restaurant family, taking over from where Joel left off. May the passion for food, the love of people and the caring of the gracious old property continue.

We often spot these beautiful Knysna Turacos flitting from branch to branch, tree to tree in the distance, seldom near and seldom stopping long enough for us to really see them clearly, let alone to capture them on camera. They tend to be shy and skittish. Recently we heard a strange sounding thud on our deck; to our amazement it was a Knysna Turaco that had made a crash landing on our deck and was gingerly negotiating its steps on the coffee table. We observed in disbelief. It stayed a long while and then moved to the top of the couch, a few seconds later it moved into a tree very close by where it stayed for an unusually long time. We managed to take a few photographs of this unusual visitor to our deck. When the bird is in flight, the flash of crimson under those wings will take your breath away. Oh to be in the right place at the right time to capture that sight on camera.

The luxurious cruise ships that have been gracefully entering and exiting our port have been upstaged a little by the SA Navy ships docked for “The Armed Forces Week” taking place in Port Elizabeth 13th-21st Feb 2016. These navy ships, along with a submarine, were open to the public over the weekend and scores of eager visitors queued in the baking sun for their turn to board, view and explore. We watched from afar. It is thrilling to witness an event of this magnitude taking place in our city. It is exciting to see cruise ship after cruise ship offload thousands of tourists who are bursting to take in all the wonderful experiences we have on offer in and around our city. We love PE.

BUT…a mini war exercise is scheduled for Sunday. We do not support this. We are deeply concerned about the impact this exercise will have on our environment, on the land and in the ocean. We look forward to an update on information from the environmental warriors.

What a delight to be part of the SAMREC full moon beach walk on Sunday 24th January. It was their first full moon beach walk event and they intend making it a monthly event. The participation fee per person supports the excellent rehabilitation efforts of SAMREC. It was a breezy and misty evening which caused havoc with the photography but it was still a most enjoyable beach walk.

SAMREC is a Marine Rehabilitation and Educational Centre situated at Cape Recife, Port Elizabeth, about 15kms from us at Dempsey’s. Their main aim is to rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured seabirds, particularly the critically endangered African Penguin. Tour the centre and explore the displays in their Discovery Room, you won’t be disappointed.

We are proud to be associated with Greencycle Recycling and Collection Services and recently received a pleasant surprise from them, a certificate thanking us for our contribution to making Port Elizabeth a more environmentally friendly city. Thank YOU Greencycle, you have managed to maintain your outstanding service over the years, you’re a force to be reckoned with and we will continue to support your recycling work.

Spring is in the air and our garden is alive with activity, especially after the good rains we’ve had. Nesting in one of the ancient syringa trees is a woodpecker family. The photos show a parent keeping vigil. Today we saw a fluffy, baby, grey head pop out of the hole. Sweetness! If we are allowed closer, photos of the baby will follow.

The Olive Woodpecker has two isolated subspecies in Africa – one is in Central Africa, and the other is endemic to South Africa, living in evergreen forests. It forages in the upper canopies of trees, probing pecking branches and licking with its barbed tongue. Both sexes excavate the nest, which is usually a oval-shaped hole in the trunk of a tree. Egg-laying season is from August-November, peaking from September-October.It lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for roughly 15-16 days. The chicks are cared for by both parents, leaving the nest at about 24-26 days old. The juveniles return to the nest to roost for about 3 months, after which they become fully independent. Several adaptations combine to protect the woodpecker’s brain from the substantial pounding that the pecking behaviour causes: it has a relatively thick skull with relatively spongy bone to cushion the brain; there is very little cerebrospinal fluid in its small subarachnoid space; the bird contracts mandibular muscles just before impact, thus transmitting the impact past the brain and allowing its whole body to help absorb the shock; its relatively small brain is less prone to concussion than other animals.

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A big thank you to Valerie Florentinus for this review, we thoroughly enjoyed meeting and hosting you. Our latest Google review:- “Amazing place. Big rooms with a good basic cooking facility. Owners are very nice. The garden is beautiful. Loved that they are a ‘green’ accomodation (recycle etc.)” Valerie Florentinus